diff --git a/lib/aasm/persistence/active_record_persistence.rb b/lib/aasm/persistence/active_record_persistence.rb
index c6d6fbf..a802d79 100644
--- a/lib/aasm/persistence/active_record_persistence.rb
+++ b/lib/aasm/persistence/active_record_persistence.rb
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ module AASM
         #   foo.aasm_state # => nil
         #
         def aasm_ensure_initial_state
-          send("#{self.class.aasm_column}=", self.aasm_enter_initial_state.to_s)
+          send("#{self.class.aasm_column}=", self.aasm_enter_initial_state.to_s) if send(self.class.aasm_column).blank?
         end
 
       end